Apparatus for controlling power operated valves



Dec. 20; 1938. R. CORSEPIUS Er AL 2,140,667

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING POWER OPERATED VALVES Filed Dec. 9, 1936 Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING POWER OPERATED VALVES Rudolf C'orsepius,

Berlin- Charlottenburg,

and

Hans Protzen, Berlin-Lichterfelde, Germany,- assignors to Bamag-Meguim Aktiengesellschaft,

Berlin, Germany Application December 9, 1936, Serial No. 115,058 In Germany December 14, 1935 6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the opening and closing of power operated'shut-ofi devices of an adsorber plant employing active carbon as adsorbing material.

It has recently become known to obtain benzene from benzene laden gases, e. g. town gas, with the aid of active carbon as adsorption material. The gas to be freed from benzene is caused to pass through a layer of active carbon in a containing vessel, the socalled adsorber. After the carbon has sufiiciently adsorbed the gas, the gas supply is shut off and steam is admitted into the adsorber, which steam forces the benzene out of the carbon. The mixture obtained, consisting of water vapour and benzene, is led through a condenser into a separator wherein the benzene is separated from the water, this being followed by'further treatment. When all the benzene has been expelled, the active carbon in the adsorber is dried with the aid of hot gases. For this purpose the gas freed of benzene is itself utilized, after same has been brought to a high temperature. Thereupon the hot active carbon is cooled with the aid of cold gas,

5 which preferably is also gas freed of benzene.

Usually, in order to be able to carry on a con tinuous operation, a plurality of such adsorbers are employed and the procedure is such that while in at least one adsorber the active carbon is being charged with benzene, in at least one other the steaming is being effected, and in the others the drying and cooling is being eifected, all in accordance with the manner of operation peculiar to the active carbon process which involves the four phases, charging, steaming, drying and cooling. The active carbon process thus makes it necessary to connect each adsorber to individual conduits for the supply and discharge of the gas, steam and so forth through shut-off devices, there being eight conduits with respec tive shut-off valves for each adsorber. The plant is generally operated by hand, and it is desirable to provide automatic control for the individual shut-oi! devices. However. the difficulty is en- 4| countered that the active carbon process makes it necessary to shut simultaneously two valves for each adsorber and directly thereafter to open another group of. valves. In this connection it is most important to avoid the opening of those valves that are to be opened prior to the closing of those valves that are to be closed. For example, the steam conduit or conduits-must not be opened prior to the gas supply conduit or conduits to the adsorber or adsorbers being completely and securely shut. It might be possible to avoid danger by allowing a longer interval between the closing step and the following opening step, but in plants where strictly timed change over periods are adopted this would lead to considerable loss of output because the ad- 5 sorber to be connected up would be out of action during this interval.

To avoid these defects and 'as applied to an adsorber plant of the character stated, the present invention provides that the electrom0tor-, 10 hydraulic or pneumatic-mechanisms for operating the shut-off devices are controlled by a source of power which, upon being started as by hand or a time switch, causes two shut-off devices in two associated conduits leading to and 15 from an adsorber to be shut, the controlling source of power being cut-out at the same time, while, when the said shut-off devices have been shut, the controlling source of power is thereby again rendered operative and causes two further 20 shut-off devices to be opened in accordance with the required manner of operation of the plant.

, A signalling system may be associated with the control arrangement, so that the position of the shut-off devices and therewith the operative con- 25 dition of the adsorbers at any one time is ascertainable.

By way of example an embodimentof the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing to which reference will now be'made. 30

Fig. 1 shows the control arrangement. sche matically.

Fig. 2 illustrates a feature of the control motor drive hereinafter explained.

Of the eight valves disposed in the appropriate 5 conduits 'in association with each adsorber the drawing shows two, denoted by the references I and 2, which are opened and closed by means of operating cylinders 3 and 4 having pistons 5 and 8 Whereon the valve members are mounted. 40 Opening and closing is effected by means of pressure gas or pressure liquid admitted to the operating cylinders and the control is brought about by control cylinders I, 8, 9 and Ill, each of which controls two valves at a time, as in the present 415 example the cylinder 1 controls the two valves I and 2. According to the position of the control piston II in the cylinder 1 the pressure medium is conducted to below or to above the pistons 5, 6 in the operating cylinders 3, 4 ad 50 thereby the valves are opened or closed.

With each adsorber are associated eight valves and accordingly four control cylinders. For several adsorbers several such groups are required. The movement of the control piston II in the ll control cylinders 1-H) is brought about by levers l2 operated by cam discs l3, M, ii, I6 fast on a shaft H. The cams l8, i9, 20 and 2| on each group of discs are-progressively staggered or oil'- set 90 in accordance with the four operations to be effected and so that one control cylinder is actuated at any one time. The shaft I1 is periodically driven through a ratio speed gear 24 and a worm 25 by an electric motor 22 which may be connected to electric mains 23. For this purpose there is fixed to the shaft IT a slip ring 21 and also a rotary switch 26 comprising two rings each having alternately conductive and non-conductive segments. The slip ring is connected through a brush 28 to the positive of the mains 23. The conductive segments 29 01' the outer ring of the switch 26 connect through a brush 30 to a conductor 3! leading to the negative of the mains 23. The conductive segments 32 of the inner ring of the switch 26 connect through a brush 33 to a conductor 34. Said outer and inner rings each comprise four conductive and four non-conductive segments, the conductive segments of the one ring being disposed opposite the non-conductive segments of the other ring. The motor 22 is connected to the mains 23 through the switch lever 35 of a magnet switch whose magnet 36 is included in the conductor 3!, in which is also disposed a master switch repre-' sented by a press button 31. The armature 38 of the switch lever 35 carries a. contact piece 33 which may bridge the press button 31 by touching contacts 40, ll.

As through the connectors oi a conductive segment 29 with the slip ring 2'! the circuit is closed when the push button 31 is operated, the magnet 36 is energized to connect the motor 22 to the mains 23 via the switch lever 35. The motor 22 and therewith the shaft I! begin to rotate and the current conducting segment 23 which is under the brush 30 is turned further away. The aforesaid conductor 3| leads to the end control contact 42 of a series of contacts on a rail 43.

- The first contact 44 of this series is connected to the rail 33 are closed, the switch the negative of the mains 23. In the conductor '3 is disposed a magnet capable of operatinga switch lever 41 through an armature M and adapted to connect the conductor 34 through a switch member 43 and a conductor 43 directly to the negative of the mains. The motor 22 may be connected through this switch lever 41 to the mains 23 in exactly the same manner as through the switch lever 35.

For closing the switch lever 41 the magnet ll must be energized and for this purpose it is necessary to close the circuit through the whole series of contacts on the rail 43, which means that all the I-shaped contacts 5| shown must be down. Each individual I-shaped contact N is disposed at the upper end of a rod II which is coupled through a lever 52 with the pertaining valve member of the individual valves I, 2, etc. If either or both of two associated valves are open the series of contacts on the rail 43 is interrupted and the magnet 45 cannot be energized and the lever 41 cannot be closed. Conversely; as soon as all valves and therewith the series of contacts on I! obviously becomes closed at once.

Opposite the contact rail 43 there is a signal contact rail 53. Individual contacts l4 0! this rail are connected to the positive of the mains, while other contacts -83 of thecontact rail 33 are connected through signal lamps II to the negative oi the mains 23. Individual contacts of this rail serve as bridging contacts. The lamps 55 are lighted up as soon as I-shaped contacts belonging to a pair of valves close the circuit. The individual lamps therefore show the open position of a pair of valves and therewith the operative position of the adsorber at any one time. A lamp '5 by reason of the circuit connection shown indicates the closing position of all the valves. The lamps may, oi course, be disposed on a central switchboard together with the push button 31, so that the control may be eflected and seen at a glance therefrom.

Where opposite contact rails 43 and 53 are provided and switch rods II are employed, it is preferable to introduce a reducing lever 52, as shown,

in order to avoid too great a spacing of the two rails, which would have to correspond to the valve stroke and would involve a sprawling construction. If the leverage is suitably selected the distance apart of the two switch rails 43 and 53 may be kept very small. Increased sensitiveness oi the switch to influences of movement through the valve is achieved by the fact that the path of the lever 52 is a short are oi a small circle. Fine adjustment is possible to cause the switch to respond only when the valve is completely closed or completely opened.

The described switching arrangement, which is influenced by the individual valves I, 2, etc., may be varied in many diil'erent ways; thus, for example, by subdividing the two contact rails into individual switches associated with the respective valves, sometimes even with the interposition of auxiliary circuits.

The foregoing presentation has been chosen particularly for the reason that the switching process is the easiest to survey and the simplest to explain. The method 01' operation of the control is asiollowsn- Assumethatthe twovalveslsnd2areinthe gas supply conduit to the adsorber and both valves are open as shown. The position of both valves is indicated by one of the lamps", since the I-shaped contacts I. are raised and close the corresponding circuit for the lamp. The operating shalt I1 is stationary, since the motor 22 is not energized, and the switches 35 and 41 are open. Therefore, for the time being the adsorber is charged with benlsns. when the charging process is completed the operator of the plant presses the button 31. Electrical connection is then made from the negative of the mains 23 through the conductor 3|. the brush 33, a conductive segment 23, the connector oi this contact segment with the slip ring 21 and the brush 23 to the positive of the mains 23. The magnet 33 is thus energized. attracts the armature 33 and closes the switch lever 3|. Since the member 33 touches both contacts 4|, 4|, the push button 31 is bridged and in spite of the push button being relessedthemsgnetremainsenergised. Inthis sure medium is forced through the pressure conduits to above the pistons and 8 in the operating cylinders 3 and 4. By this means the valves 1 and 2 are shut. As the two switch rods 5| are simultaneously moved and therewith the contacts 50, the latter, after the valve members of the valves I and 2 have reached their seats, close the circuit through the contact rail 43, said circuit leading from the negative of the mains through the conductor 34, the brush 33, the conductive segment of the inner ring 32 that has now come under said brush, the connecting lead to the slip ring 21 and the brush 23 to the positive of the mains. Thereby the magnet 45 is energized, the armature 46 is attracted and the switch 41 is closed. Consequently the motor 22 is again energized and the operating shaft 11 is rotated through a further th revolution when. the switch lever 41 is opened because the circuit is broken by the brush 33 contacting with the insulating segmentfcllowing the conducting segment that was under the brush during this partial revolution. Meanwhile the cam II of the disc l6 has been brought under the lever system 12 of the cylinder I0 and thereby the next pair of valves are caused to open, so that now follows the period of steaming of the adsorber. The raising of the contacts 50 corresponding to this pair of valves closes the circuit of the lamp that indicates to the operator steaming is in progress. Of course, the previous lowering of the contacts 50 pertaining to the valves l, 2 cut out the signal lamp 55 for these valves.

When the steaming is completed the operator again presses the button 31 and the shaft is rotated through a further th revolution whereupon the valves in the steam conduit are closed in a manner that will now be apparent. Next, owing to the action of the corresponding contacts upon the switch rail 43 the shaft l1 will be rotated through still a further th revolution and thereby the cylinder 9 is influenced to open the valves in the hot gas conduit. After the drying of the active carbon in the adsorber has been completed the valves in the drying gas conduit are closed by actuating the press button when the corresponding contacts 50 cause the valves of the cold gas conduit to be opened to cool the carbon in the adsorber. This period of cooling is then again followed by the charging period and so forth.

It will be seen from the construction of the control device that it is impossible to effect the opening of a pair of valves by the operation of the push button prior to the previous valves in the sequence of the operation being closed. The circuit passing through the brush 30 is broken as soon as the shaft H has been rotated through th revolution. But the motor can only be switched on through the circuit including the brush 33. This, however, is only possible with the aid of the contacts 50. The movements are positively controlled. This positiveness in the movement of the valves assures with certitude the closing of all valves which have been open during the foregoing period of operation prior to the opening of the valves belonging to the-next period of operation being started. Troubles are easily located with the aid of the lamps. It can be'seen at once whether a valve lingers between its two end points, whether this is due to insuflicient supply of energy for the movement or to other reasons. Since, moreover, during the uninterrupted movement of a shut-oifdevice further change over operation is not possible, a wrong change over operation is avoided with certitude. At the same time the waiting period involved by the change over is reduced exclusively to the period necessary for the movement of the armatures.

For the described change over it is important that the shaft 11 be always rotated only through ;th of a revolution. The rotation of the shaft I1 is therefore preferably efiected by means of a ratchet wheel 51 and a pawl 58, as shown in Fig. 2. The motor 22 drives through a worm 53 a worm wheel and this moves a crank 6|, thereby pulling downa crank rod 62 which engages a balance beam 63 mounted on the shaft I1. In so doing the pawl 58 rotates the ratchet wheel 51 through one of its eight teeth. As the motor continues to rotate owing to its inertia, braking is necessary, this being achieved by a spring 64 which engages the other end of the balance beam 63.

Instead of a push button switch 31, which is operated at predetermined intervals by an operator, the master switch may be a time switch employed to switch on the motor after predetermined periods of time, which may be uniform, or different for each of the successive operations, as required. In this manner a fully automatic plant may be provided. Further, instead of using segment rings disposed on the shaft I1, the circuits of the magnets 36 and 45 may be operated by some other switching device mounted on said shaft. The important point is that the switching device shall interrupt the circuit, for example the circuit in which the magnet 36 is disposed, after /,;th of a revolution and atthe same time shall enable the. other circuit to be closed when the contacts 50 are operated and vice versa.

We claim:---

1. Control means for a plurality of pairs of shut-off elements located in a like plurality of associated supply and outlet conduits of an active carbon plant, and electromotive-, hydraulicor pneumatic-power mechanisms operating said elements, comprising, in combination, a single electric motor, control means actuated by the motor for operating pairs in sequence of said power mechanisms, .two parallel power circuits through the motor, switch means operable by the motor to bridge one and break the other alternately of said parallel circuits, a master switch in one of said circuits for energizing the motor temporarily through the switch means while it effects the closure of one pair of the shutoff elements, contacts in the other of said circuits, and means movable by each of said pair of shut-off elements to jointly bridge the contacts only when both of said pair of shut-off elements attain their closed positions to energize the motor temporarily through'the switch means while it effectsthe opening of another pair of the shut-- off elements.

2. Control means for a plurality of" pairs of shut-off elements located in alike plurality of associated supply and outlet conduits of an active carbon plant and the electromotive hydraulicor pneumatic-power mechanisms operating said elements, comprising, in combination, a rotary controller for actuating pairs in sequence of said power mechanisms, an electric motor operatively connected to the controller, two parallel power circuits through the motor, switch means turnable with the controller through a limited angle to bridge one and break the other alternately of said parallel circuits, a master switch in one of said circuits-for energizing the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it effects the closure of one pair 01 the shutoiT elements, control contacts in the other of said circuits and means movable by each of said pair of shut-ofi elements to jointly bridge the control contacts only when both of said pair of shut-off elements attain their closed positions to energize the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it effects the opening or another pair of the shut'oiif elements.-

3. Control means for a plurality of pairs of shut-off elements located in a like plurality of associated supply and outlet conduits of an active carbon plant, and electromotive-, hydraulicor pneumatic-power mechanisms operating said elements, comprising, in combination, a single electric motor, control means actuated by the motor for operating pairs in sequence of said power mechanisms, two parallel power circuits through the motor, switch means turnable by the motor through a limited angle to bridge one and break the other alternately of said parallel circuits, a master switch in one of said circuits for energizing the motor temporarily through the tumable switch means while it effects the closure oi one pair of the shut-off elements, contacts in the other of said circuits, and means movable by each of said pair of shut-off elements to jointly bridge the contacts only when both of said pair of shut-oil elements attain their closed positions to energize the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it eflects the opening of another pair of the shut-ofi elements, a plurality of signal lamp circuits, and contacts in said circuits disposed to be bridged by said movable means in the limit positions of the shutoff elements.

4. Control means for a plurality of pairs of shut-off elements located in a like plurality 01' associated supply and outlet conduits of an active carbon plant, and the electromotive-, hydraulicor pneumatic-power mechanisms operating said elements, comprising, in combination, a rotary controller for actuating pairs in sequence oi said power mechanisms, an electric motor operatively connected to the controllen two parallel power circuits through the motor, switch means turnable with the controller through a limited angle to bridge one and break the other alternately of said parallel circuits, a master switch in one of said circuits for energizing the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it effects the closure of one pair of the shut-oil elements, control contacts in the other 0! said circuits and means movable by each oi said pair of shut-oil elements to jointly bridge the control contacts only when both of said pair or shut-oi! elements attain their closed positions to energize the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it effects the opening of another pair of the shut-oi? elements, a plurality of groups of signal contacts disposed to .be bridged by said movable means when both or a pair of shut-oil! elements attain their fully open positions, signal lamp circuits severally containing each'oi' said groups oi signal contacts, and another signal lamp circuit containing all of said control contacts so as to be completed when all of the pairs of shut-01f elements attain their closed positions.

5. Control means for a plurality of pairs of shut-off elements located in a like plurality of associated supply and outlet conduits of an active carbon plant, and the electromotive-, hydraulicor pneumatic-power mechanisms operating said elements, comprising, in combination, a rotary controller for actuating pairs in sequence of said power mechanisms, an electric motor, a pawl-and-ratchet-wheel mechanism operatively connecting the controller and the motor, the ratchet wheel having a number of teeth corresponding to the number of operations in the control cycle, two parallel power circuits through the motor, switch means turnable stepwise with the controller to bridge one and break the other alternately of said parallel circuits, a master switch in one of said circuits for energizing the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it effects the closure of one pair of the shut-oi! elements, control contacts in the other of said circuits and means movable by each of said shut-oil elements to jointly bridge the control contacts only-when both of said pair of shut-oil elements attain their closed positions to energize the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it efiects the opening oi another pair of the shut-cit elements.

6. Control means (or a plurality 01' pairs of shut-eii elements located in a like plurality of associated supply and inlet conduits or an active carbon plant, and fluid-pressure mechanisms operating said elements, comprising, in combination, a camshaft cyclically controlling pairs of said mechanisms, an electric motor, a pawlandratchet-wheel mechanism operatively connecting the camshaft and the motor, the ratchet wheel having a number .01 teeth corresponding to the number or operations in the controlled cycle, two parallel power circuits through the motor, switch means turnable with the camshaft through a limited angle to bridge one and break the other alternately 01' said parallel circuits, a master switch in one of said circuits for energizing the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it efl'ects the closure of one pair of the shut-oil elements, control contacts in the other said circuits and'means movable by each of said ut-ofl elements to jointly bridge the control co tacts only when both oi said pair or shut-oi! e ements attain their closed positions to energize the motor temporarily through the turnable switch means while it eflects the opening of another pair oi the shut-oi! elements.

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